Joel Goldfield's idea about converting intellectual property to real
estate using the profits of a wage-supported pursuit of knowledge is
brilliant. Unfortunately for beleaguered humanists, the idea has
already been copywritten - by universities. We can debate about various
forms of freedom, but we're just slaves to the mortgage.

Anyone involved in this open software / intellectual property debate
should note the article in yesterday's New York Times (Wed 2/15/89)
on (I think) the first Business page, on the recent trend to patenting
mathematical algorithms and the implications of that move, as well as
the patenting of life-forms.